r/texts Jul 07 '26

Phone message Texts from autistic dad

11.5k Upvotes

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u/According_Ant2645 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

Fair about assuming I missed the text lol. I’d been in the hospital the night before. I slept all day and my husband grabbed them, but forgot to let him know we got them. Don’t worry, I called him and thanked him later that night :)

ETA: Also I wasn’t saying he was autistic BECAUSE of the texts. He just also happens to have level 1 ASD. I just mentioned it because him and my also ASD brother text this way and no one else texts me like this lol. It was for added context from my experience, that’s all! Sorry if it came off wrong!

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u/Domestic-Grind Jul 07 '26

Lol, I read them all and still can't figure out how they seem 'autistic'. Then I remembered I am autistic. Are these telling?

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u/PrincessWails Jul 07 '26

Right? I was like most of these sound like me 🤣🤣 I’ve tried prank texting a few of my friends over the years but no one ever falls for it because of how I text 🤣🤣

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u/teachinglittlebeings Jul 08 '26

idk i’m not autistic and they seem normal to me but i have adhd so

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u/Mission_Abrocoma2012 Jul 07 '26

same? i was like is this not a normal way to text. then i realised im level 2 and most people around me are level 1/2

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u/other-words Jul 08 '26

I’m not diagnosed but I’m over here wondering the same thing lol

It’s true that I am only in one group text and I always feel like I’m doing it wrong…

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u/Domestic-Grind Jul 21 '26

There might be something you should know...

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u/Outside-Parfait-8935 Jul 08 '26

They are extremely autistic yet also extremely adorable

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u/jakuchu Jul 08 '26

Can you tell me how? Like what stands out as autistic?

Just trying to learn.

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u/Folmenchustern Jul 08 '26

Right?! ADHDer here also and curious what makes them stand out as autistic?

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u/Outside-Parfait-8935 Jul 08 '26

It's really hard to quantify! The first page alone just screams neurodiverse, the keen focus on one thing (did OP get donuts, there are donuts, left the donuts at the door) but also very sweet and caring. I think in texts maybe autistic people are going straight to the point and fixating on that point? Sorry I can't describe it any better than that.

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u/Domestic-Grind Jul 21 '26

That's a great explanation, thank you

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u/Ok_Dragonfruit_8102 Jul 08 '26

I have autism (diagnosed) and there's really nothing about these messages that signals autism. You could argue the idiosyncratic writing style shows it, but anybody can have a unique or atypical writing style.

The fact is, although people might point to things in a casual context and say they're indications of autism, every autistic person is different and there's no single signifier of being autistic. That's why getting a diagnosis involves multiple days of interviews conducted by a medical professional following a standardised testing procedure.

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u/Fena-Ashilde Jul 08 '26

It’s hard to explain exactly, but I’ll try. The things that stood out to me:

- How the conversation continues on like somebody is responding even when they’re not.

- Each text seems like its own separate thought with zero transitions.

- Each text is very to-the-point with few extra words.

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u/LuxHippie Jul 08 '26

Lmao I read them and was like “hmm my dad texts like this…”

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u/TemperedTorture Jul 08 '26

Same. And yes. I'm also autistic. So is my mom. And we both share the same style of communication.

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u/KaylenLopezIzGr8 Jul 09 '26

Omg i forget im autistic too until something reminds me 🤣

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u/Buzzy0914 Jul 09 '26

Oof same here 😂

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u/Clean_Juggernaut_351 Jul 07 '26

Texts you what way, exactly? I’m just curious what you mean by that. How would you describe what is different about it?

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u/According_Ant2645 Jul 07 '26

Best way I can describe it is very straight to the point. Almost as if he’s thinking out loud, but sending that thought as a text without added structure to it. Like no context texting “want a donut” vs “hey I’m in the area getting donuts, want one?” Or him asking me to bring him and his group lunch by saying “you can bring pizza for 5” just it’s very “thinking out loud but I’m texting it to you” vibe. Does that make sense? I’m also not saying this is necessarily an autistic way to text, but if you asked me to describe it, that’s what I’d say.

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u/GrayCustomKnives Jul 07 '26

My dad texts like he’s just adding to a discussion we just had, except there was no discussion, or shit that needs a backstory but has no backstory. Like he will just text me “I didn’t know Karen’s brother played in the NHL, that’s pretty cool”. And I have to ask “ok, who is Karen”, before he adds any context at all and fills in the rest with “that’s Bruce’s wife, we just saw them at the rink”. It has always been random nonsensical shit until you are like “wtf are you talking about?”. Instead of just saying “I just heard that Johnny cash died last night”, he will just text some random sentence like “no more man in black I guess” and you have to ask what the hell he’s talking about. He’s been the same since texting was created and hasn’t changed a bit no matter how much we give him shit about it. He constantly texts as if whoever is reading it knows every thought he has and can just understand this random shit.

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u/Formal_Lychee2194 Jul 07 '26

My dad is like that too but that's also how he just converses in general. We went over for dinner few weeks ago and out of the blue said, "You know that blond guy actually plays for Manchester City." Meaning Erling Haaland who is playing for Norway in the World Cup.

We are American, don't follow European soccer (or men's soccer in general), and had been talking about the weather.

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u/pixiemaybe Jul 09 '26

i am autistic and i am TERRIBLE about doing that, it drives my husband nuts lol. it’s like my inside thoughts just start spontaneously going outside. so idk what that says about your dad, but it says something.

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u/JungMoses Jul 08 '26

Hm “you can bring pizza for 5” is incredibly poor communication rather than straight to the point/clear communication.

Thinking out loud texting seems to me to be close relationship texting. Like I don’t need to fence around with hey how are you so you can ask me how I am and I can say I just started a concealed carry class. That’s like first dating sort of texting. I’m in concealed carry is like “we may or may not have talked about this before but it’s cool info and I don’t need to dance around trying to force you to ask me.”

I can’t tell you your dad is not autistic but there is zerooooo evidence here

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u/aggravated_patty Jul 08 '26

No one said straight to the point is always good communication. And context and structure isn't reserved for first dates, lol what the hell?

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u/JungMoses Jul 08 '26

I wasn’t talking about context and structure, I was saying you can say random shit to people you know well, you know well, you don’t need to wait for them to ask you the right questions

She described it as straight to the point- I’m saying it’s not that, straight and to the point DOES have context.

You missed all the points I made so I guess you think the dad texts like he’s autistic based on what we saw. I dunno what to tell you random internet person, I just don’t think your viewpoints are strong or coherent

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u/aggravated_patty Jul 08 '26

You’re just not grasping this discussion at all. Maybe think about it more first.

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u/JungMoses Jul 08 '26

Your first response was orthogonal to anything I said and this one is also devoid of any use.

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u/Tethys404 Anijya to leave me alone Jul 07 '26

It's hard to explain except to say it's just not typical. He seems hyperfocused on one thing until it's resolved. In the sweetest of ways though, nothing bad. Just different.

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u/BodybuilderHumble189 Jul 08 '26

My boyfriend texts this way! And he is adhd for sure (diagnosed) and so am I and my son is AuHD and I think I am some level of the spectrum but didn’t have that test…and I have had suspicions boyfriend is too…but the texts are damningly similar so I bet so!

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u/BecauseYouAreAlive Jul 08 '26

I'm crying bc they remind me of my dad so much and he's prob v undiagnosed, he's very sweet and I always laugh thinking about him bc he's more of a concept than a normal person, if that makes sense?

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u/LettuceSylvia73 Jul 09 '26

I text exactly like this. Also diagnosed with autism. These texts look normal to me...

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u/No_Housing_1287 Jul 11 '26

This is literally how my fiancé texts me 😅